Picker stick



Feb. 5 1924.

B. W. SCHUTZ PICKER STICK Filed May 20. 1922 IU Wm, M O m C w w M 1 B QHUH f 2 W W w a w j R Patented Feb. 5, i924.

BERNARD WfSCHUTZ, OF HALE DON, NEVI JERSEY.

PICKER STICK.

Application filed May 20, 1922.

To all whom 2'25 may concern.

Be it known that I, BERNARD V. Scrrorz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haledon, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picker Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

Picker sticks for looms are usually formed in one piece, and as the free end (which imparts the blow to the picker) becomes worn more quickly than the remainder of the stick it is necessary to discard the entire stick when its free end is worn out, and this involves an appreciable item of expense. My object in the present inven tion is to provide a picker stick formed in two sectionsso that when the section including the free or'acting end of the stick becomes worn it may be replaced with a new oneand to make a picker stick of this two-piece character so that it will be Well adapted to withstand, though jointed, the severe shocks and strains which are incident to the use of these devices.

The invention will be found fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a picker stick embodying my improvement;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof; and

Fig. 3 shows a modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the stick has the usual tapering form as seen in side elevation; this taper is not indispensable, but I have a special reason for retaining it in my improved picker stick, as will appear. The stick is made in two sections, alined with each other, a lower section a having the bearing hole 7) and being the longer section, and an upper section 0.

The two sections are preferably jointed with each other. In the preferred construc tion this joint is generally such that the portions of the joint prevent longitudinal separation of the sections without displacement of one of them transversely of the other. The joint d of this type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is what is commonly known as a dove-tail joint, the tongue of the joint being on the section a and the recess thereof in the section 0. It will be obvious that because the tongue and recess are dove-tailed Serial No. 562,318.

transversely of the other, i. e., toward or from the observer in Fig. 1.

Fitted over the stick is a metal casting c which amounts in effect to a broad strap and contains a gib c adjoining the front wall thereof. The passage through the clamp formed by this strap and its gib has the same cross-sectional form and size as the region of the stick which immediately in cludes the joint d, and it also has the same taper as such region or part of the stick. The casting is formed as thin as possible so as to have the requisite strength and yet not be unduly heavy. Into the casting preferably at the front side or wall thereof are tapped set screws 7", these being adapted to bind against the gib, which in turn binds against the stick and preferably has the surface thereof facing the stick serrated to afford a good grip. The casting may be thickened up or reinforced, as at g, as to the portions thereof in which the screws are tapped. Before the screws are screwed up against the gib the clamp is preferably forced downward somewhat on the stick so as to grip the same as firmly as possible.

In Fig. 3 the construction is in all respects the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 excepting that the joint between the sections a and 0 of the stick is a lap-joint in which the abutting longitudinal faces are both set at the same angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of the stick, the plane of the faces being such that the free end of each. of the lapping portions OZ is wider than its base and so the sections cannot be longitudinally separated without displacement of one of them transversely of the other.

It is obvious, in view of the character of the work imposed on a picker stick, that it cannot be well made sectional unless its sections are jointed in such manner that the stick is as strong as if it were one piece, and that in practice the joint should further be such that the likelihood of any loosening is as completely as possible eliminated. According to my construction, the stick is in point of strength substantially equivalent to a one-piece stick, because in addition to the clamp to prevent any tendency of the sections to buckle where they meet end to end the sections themselves have overlapping portions bearing against each other; so long as the clamp is made to snugly embrace the two sections, therefore, they are practically as one in their ability to resist buckling. Endwise displacement oi? the section 0 is prevented partly by the taper form of the stick and the taper form of the passage of the clamp to correspond, and partly by the peculiar interlock between the joint portions of the sections at (Z or d; and so long as the screws f remain active to prevent slippage of the clamp such endwise displacement is impossible. It is obviously an important advantage to retain the taper oi the stick and taper the inside of the clamp to correspond so that the clamp can be made to grip the stick tightly.

Having thus "fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A picker stick for looms including two alined stick sections having an interlock reventing their separation longitudinally of the stick Without displacement of one of them transversely of the other and clamping means embracing the sections and uniting each rigidly to the other.

2. A picker stick including two alined stick sectionshaving overlapping portions abutting each; other laterally and having their lateral abut-ting faces oblique in the direction to prevent. separation of the sections longitudinally of the stick Without displacement of one of them transversely of the other, and clamping means embracing said portions and thereby uniting each section rigidly to the other. 3. A picker stick for looms including two alined stick sections having an interlock preventing their separation longitudinally of the stick Without displacement of one of them transversely of the other ,and clamping means embracing the sections and uniting each rigidly to the other, the interlocking portions of the sections forming a tapered part of the stick and the interior of the clamp being tapered to fit andifitting said tapered part.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

BERNARD V. SC-HUTZ. 

